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Telomeres from different eukaryotes, including trypanosomatids, are transcribed into TERRA noncoding RNAs, crucial in regulating chromatin deposition and telomere length. TERRA is transcribed from the C-rich subtelomeric strand towards the 3′-ends of the telomeric array. Using bioinformatics, we confirmed the presence of subtelomeric splice acceptor sites at all L. major chromosome ends. Splice leader sequences positioned 5′ upstream of L. major chromosomes subtelomeres were then mapped using SL-RNA-Seq libraries constructed from three independent parasite life stages and helped confirm TERRA expression from several chromosomes ends. Northern blots and RT-qPCR validated the results showing that L. major TERRA is processed by trans-splicing and polyadenylation coupled reactions. The number of transcripts varied with the parasite's life stage and continuous passages, being more abundant in the infective forms. However, no putative subtelomeric promoters involved in TERRA's transcriptional regulation were detected. In contrast, the observed changes in parasite's telomere length during development, suggest that differences in telomeric base J levels may control TERRA transcription in L. major. Also, TERRA-R loops' detection, mainly in the infective forms, was suggestive of TERRA's involvement in telomere protection. Therefore, Leishmania TERRA shares conserved features with other eukaryotes and advances new telomere specific functions in a Public Health-impacting parasite.

Background: Homeless persons have been described as one of the most vulnerable populations worldwide, with higher morbidity and mortality of diseases associated with HIV occurrence. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and HIV has been extensively studied in other vulnerable populations, however, no study to date have focused on their concomitant seroprevalence in homeless persons. Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess the concomitant seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii and anti-HIV antibodies and associated risk factors in homeless persons in a daytime homeless shelter of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Methods: Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected by indirect fluorescent antibody test and anti-HIV levels by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay, with positive samples confirmed by rapid immunoblot assay. Results: Overall, IgG anti-T. gondii seropositivity was found in 43/120 (35.8%) homeless persons, with endpoint titers varying from 16 to 1,024. The only two pregnant women tested were negative for IgM by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay, with normal parturition and clinically healthy newborns in both cases. There were no statistical differences in the risk factors for anti-T. gondii serology (p>0.05). Anti- HIV seropositivity was found in 2/120 (1.7%) homeless persons, confirmed as HIV-1. One HIV seropositive individual was also sero-reactive to IgG anti-T. gondii, and both were negative to IgM anti-T. gondii. One HIV positive person was also diagnosed with syphilis, tuberculosis and body lice presence, while the other never returned for assistance. No evaluation of anti- HIV risk factors has been made due to the low seropositive rate. Conclusions: The anti-T. gondii prevalence herein was lower than other Brazilian populations, likely related to predominant intake of processed food such as ready-to-eat and fast-food meals, and thus, low ingestion of fresh salad and raw meat. On the other hand, the anti- HIV seropositivity was higher than the average of the general Brazilian population, with 0.4%. Despite the low prevalence of anti-T. gondii in homeless persons, clinical manifestations may be aggravated in HIV positive individuals. To the author's knowledge, this is the first study of anti-T. gondii serosurvey in homeless persons concomitantly assessed with anti-HIV seropositivity.

Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-03T18:19:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-09-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-15T14:34:42Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S0102-09352018000501665.pdf: 166190 bytes, checksum: c9f9c74e8e90a3a8121a94dd43918ac9 (MD5) Milk samples from 257 goats and 513 half udders of 10 dairy goat farms were analyzed by microbiological culture, to evaluate the sanitary management, and epidemiological questionnaire results. Multivariate analysis of risk factors for subclinical mastitis in goats, with the adjusted Odds Ratio for subclinical mastitis was performed. The prevalence of subclinical mastitis in goats by microbiological culture was 43.6%, and clinical mastitis was 5.84%. From 178 positive teats by microbiological culture, the most prevalent pathogens were coagulase-negative staphylococci - CNS (70%), S. aureus (13.5%), S. intermedius (7.9%), and Enterobacteriaceae (4%). The risk factors analysis revealed significant association between the disease and the flock size (OR = 3.33; P = 0.0268), and the farm was a confounding factor, being kept in the final statistical model. Despite the non-identification of all the factors associated with subclinical mastitis in herds and the existence of confounding factors that hinder statistical analyzes, the study of risk factors is important for the improvement of disease control and prevention programs in dairy goat, and it can be used as a tool in the reduction of environmental and contagious pathogens such as staphylococci that were the most identified pathogens causing caprine mastitis in the study. Univ Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T16:56:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2022-01-10. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2022-04-28T17:11:16Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S1808-16572007000300267.pdf: 1267756 bytes, checksum: dd2fc87e0c749c22d5e948afca5052a2 (MD5) Diversos inquéritos soroepidemiológicos a respeito da toxoplasmose e leptospirose em suínos foram realizados em diferentes estados brasileiros, demonstrando a importância destas enfermidades para a suinocultura, bem como o potencial da espécie suína como fonte de infecção destas enfermidades para o homem. Este trabalho objetivou estabelecer as ocorrências de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii e anti-Leptospira spp. em suínos abatidos em três abatedouros, situados nos Estados de Minas Gerais e São Paulo. Foram colhidas 262 amostras de sangue de suínos terminados, provenientes de 16 municípios. Os soros foram submetidos ao método de Aglutinação Direta Modificada (MAD) para pesquisa de anticorpos anti-T. gondii, e à Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM), para anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. Nenhuma amostra foi positiva para T. gondii e duas amostras reagiram para Leptospira interrogans, sorovar Pyrogenes (título 100). Os resultados devem ser em função do emprego do sistema de confinamento total, aliado ao manejo higiênico-sanitário na atividade suinícola e pelo pequeno período de permanência dos animais terminados nas granjas. Many seroepidemiological inquiries of toxoplasmosis and leptospirosis in swine have been realized in many Brazilian states, demonstrating the importance of these diseases for swine farming, as well as the potential of this swine species as a source of infection of these diseases for man. This study aimed to establish the occurrence of antibodies anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Leptospira spp. in swine slaughtered in 3 slaughterhouses, located in Minas Gerais and São Paulo states, Brazil. Two hundred sixty-two blood samples were collected from slaughtered swine, from 16 cities, and the sera samples were submitted to the modified agglutination test, to investigate antiT. gondii antibodies, and to the microscopic agglutination test, to investigate anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies. No sample was positive for T. gondii, and 2 samples reacted to Leptospira interrogans, serovar Pyrogenes (titer 100). These low occurrences of antibodies in the studied swine, for the Leptospiratest, could be due the use of the system of total confinement, allied to the hygienic-sanitary swine management and the slaughtered animals’ short length of stay at the farms. Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia Agência Estadual de Defesa Sanitária Animal e Vegetal Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia

Made available in DSpace on 2022-10-10T13:56:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2022-04-20. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2022-10-10T15:39:57Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S1808-16572005000300289.pdf: 1890323 bytes, checksum: 8f6b5e05f114164dd29abe6ee51da8f9 (MD5) Com o objetivo de conhecer-se a freqüência sorológica antileptospírica em cães e sua correlação com roedores e fatores ambientais, na área territorial urbana de 32 km2 do Município de Botucatu, SP, colheram-se 1.000 amostras de sangue de cães, em 20 postos homogeneamente distribuídos. A prova diagnóstica utilizada foi a de soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM), com 24 sorovares de Leptospira spp. Das 1.000 amostras submetidas à prova, 17,9% foram reagentes. Os cães reagentes que tiveram contato com roedores (23,68%) mostraram-se significativos (p < 0,05) em relação aos reagentes que não tiveram contato (15,37%). Na correlação entre animais de residências ligadas (18,10%) ou não ligadas (13,63%) à rede pública de esgoto e a soropositividade, não se observou significância estatística (p > 0,05). Ocorreram reações para 20 sorovares, com maior importância para: castellonis (28,68%), autumnalis (19,12%), pyrogenes (17,65%), icterohaemorrhagiae (11,03%) e canicol (9,56%). The aim of this study was to ascertain the antileptospirosis serological frequency in dogs and its correlation with rodents and environmental factors in a 32 km2 urban area of Botucatu, SP, Brazil. One thousand blood samples were collected from dogs at 20 homogenously distributed stations. The microscopic serum agglutination diagnostic test (SAM) was used with 24 Leptospira spp. serovars. From the 1,000 samples tested, 17.9% were reactive. Reactive dogs who had contact with rodents (23.68%) were significant (p < 0.05) in relation to those without contact (15.37%). There was no statistical significance (p > 0.05) between seropositive animals from homes connected (18.10%) and not connected (13.63%) to the public sewage system. There were reactions to 20 serovars, the most important were: castellonis (28.68%), autumnalis (19.12%), pyrogenes (17.65%), icterohaemorrhagiae (11.03%), and canicola (9.56%). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências

The orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus) is a rodent species common in most parts of South America, and little is known about the pathologies that can afflict it. A specimen was delivered at the Wildlife Research and Medical Center (CEMPAS), School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. The animal showed intense apathy, with purulent secretion in the nasal cavity and fracture of the lumbar spine. Due to the unfavorable prognosis, the porcupine was euthanized and microbiological culture of nasal discharge showed Staphylococcus epidermidis. The antimicrobial resistance test revealed sensitivity to all tested antimicrobials (ampicillin, oxacillin, tetracycline, penicillin G, neomycin, cephalexin, gentamicin, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazol, cefoxitin and cephalothin). This bacterium is part of the nasal flora of humans and other animals, and may cause infection under certain conditions. In the present study, the infection and colonization by S. epidermidis was the probable cause of the inflammatory process. The sensitivity to all tested antimicrobials suggests that this strain has not been previously exposed to such drugs.

Uninfected dogs (n = 10) and those naturally infected with leishmaniasis (n = 10) were subjected to several diagnostic tests, namely: hemoculture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of hemoculture, indirect immunofluorescence (RIFI), cytological examination of lymph node aspirate, culture of lymph node aspirate and PCR of lymph node aspirate. RIFI - followed by PCR of lymph node aspirate culture - presented more positive results in infected dogs than in uninfected ones. In infected animals, RIFI was more effective than PCR of lymph node aspirate culture. There was no statistical difference in positivity between RIFI and hemoculture; lymph node aspirate culture/cytological examination of lymph node aspirate and PCR of hemoculture; and between PCR of lymph node aspirate culture and PCR of hemoculture. All infected and uninfected animals had positive and negative results in at least one test. In conclusion, the association of several tests improves the efficacy of canine visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis.

Hantaviruses belong to the Bunyaviridae family, which consists of vector-borne viruses. These viruses can provoke two infection types: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) - which occurs in the Old World - and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) - an emergent zoonosis that can be found in many countries of the western hemisphere. Rodents are hantavirus reservoirs and each species seems to host a different virus type. Humans acquire the infection by inhaling contaminated aerosol particles eliminated by infected animals. The factors involved in the emergence of hantavirus infections in the human population include ecological modifications and changes in human activities. The most important risk factor is contact between man and rodents, as a result of agricultural, forestry or military activities. Rodent control remains the primary strategy for preventing hantavirus diseases, including via health education and hygienic habits.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-10T18:01:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2003-01-01 The aim of the present work was to. evaluate the association among the kinetics of humoral immune response, the recovery of viable leptospiras and the intensity of the tissue lesions in mice selected for high (H) and low (L) production of antibodies (selection IV-A) and in mice from the outbreed Balb/c line, inoculated with pathogenic Leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae. The H and L lines showed modifications in some steps of the immune response, mainly in relation to the macrophagic activity, representing extreme phenotypes found in heterogeneous natural populations. Mice were sacrificed in eight moments after the infection. Analysis of the results revealed that from the 7th day after the infection, on line H mice presented antibodies titles significantly higher as compared to the L line mice, maintaining the multispecific effect Balb/c line mice showed intermediate results between the two lines. Antibodies production worked as a limiting factor to the infection, because when a greater leptospiras recovery was obtained, at the initial phase of the infection, the titles of antibodies were elevated. Inflammatory and degenerative process led to similar lesions in the organs of infected mice. Only a variation in the degree of tissue compromising was observed according to the line. H line mice showed more extensive lesions than L and Balb/c lines mice. For the Balb/c line mice, the lesions were moderate. As a rule, H and Balb/c mice lines showed a Th2 profile of immune response, with higher indexes of antibody production and gravity of the lesions, while L line mice presented a Th1 profile of immune response. UNESP, Microbiol Lab, Dept Apoio Prod & Saude Anim FOA, BR-16050680 Aracatuba, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Higiene & Sau Publ, NUPEZO, BR-18618000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, BR-18618000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil UNESP, Dept Clin & Chirugia FOA, Disciplina Patol, BR-16050680 Aracatuba, SP, Brazil UNESP, Microbiol Lab, Dept Apoio Prod & Saude Anim FOA, BR-16050680 Aracatuba, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Higiene & Sau Publ, NUPEZO, BR-18618000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, BR-18618000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil UNESP, Dept Clin & Chirugia FOA, Disciplina Patol, BR-16050680 Aracatuba, SP, Brazil